About The Beaches In Saranda
Being a beach town in the Albanian Riviera, obviously the beaches are what attracts the majority of the visitors to Saranda. Almost the entire coastline in Saranda consists of beaches, and the water is perfectly clear and turquoise. Here you find a complete guide to all the beaches in Saranda, some of which are public, and others are privately operated. We have divided the town up in three areas: the Public Beaches in the centre of town, the Beaches in Koddra in the west and the beaches alongside Rruga Butrinti in the east.
Public Beach
Saranda Beach is the only public beach in town, which means it is accessible by anyone for free. At the same time, it is the longest beach strip as well, stretching all the way from the Ferry Terminal until the end of the promenade on Rruga Butrinti. So basically any part of the beach in front of the boulevard is a public beach, or Plazh Publik in Albanian.
Being a city beach, Saranda Beach is obviously not the best beach in Albania and it wouldn’t be fair to compare it with any of the hidden beaches you can find elsewhere on the coast. It’s mostly full of stones and yes it can be very busy! Nevertheless, since the beach stretches in front of the Saranda’s town centre it has a really great vibe and the view over the entire bay is fantastic! Besides that, it’s so centrally located that you have everything around.
On the Public Beach there are some small piers that you can jump off and you can also find some ruins of the entrance gate of ancient Onhezmus.
Beaches On Rruga Butrinti
Rruga Butrinti meanders around the coastline in the east of Saranda and is the more touristic part of town. You’ll find plenty of hotels, apartment complexes, bars and restaurants alongside the entire coast. All of the beaches in this area are privately operated, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t go there. Most of these beaches are in front of a hotel or restaurant and are free for their patrons. Sometimes they require a small fee for non-hotel guests or you need to rent a beach bed or umbrella or you’re expected you to buy a consumption.
Since you can find some of the best beaches in Saranda in this area, it’s definitely worth going here. People might argue which beach is the best, but Secret Beach, Santa Quaranta Beach and Mango Beach are definitely among the favorites.
At the end of the town, Rruga Butrinti continues alongside the coastline all the way until Ksamil and Butrint. Just a few kilometers out of town there are a couple of really nice and secluded beaches like Monastery Beach, Mirror Beach and Pulëbardha Beach.
Beaches In Kodrra
Kodrra is located in the west of Saranda and is considered the more local part of the town. It is more quiet than the centre and the busy tourist side of Rruga Butrinti. Nevertheless, most of the beaches are still privately operated. Off course hotel guests and restaurant patrons can go there for free. Also here guests are usually welcome but they might expect you rent a beach bed or at least buy a consumption.
The entire beach in Kodrra is actually one big strip which starts straight after the Port of Saranda where you see the African Beach Club on Rruga Mitat Hoxha. The beach bends around a few corners and stretches almost until the local fishing port. Also here you find a couple of concrete piers to jump straight into the crystal clear water.
If you continue on Rruga Idriz Alidhimi after the fishing port, there is another private beach at the Mucobega Hotel.
If you like a more quite spot and don’t mind a long hike, there are also a couple of nice and empty beaches behind the hills. From the end of the town you can find a trail that leads there. Unless you have a boat, walking is the only way to get there. Prepare yourself with enough food and water, as there is nothing out there. But that makes it great at the same time!
What To Do At The Beaches In Saranda
If you are staying in Saranda, the beaches in town are perfect for a lazy beach day, or if you just want to go for a quick morning swim before heading out for the day. And what to think about just tipping your toes into the water after coming back from a day excursion.
When it comes to food and drinks, there are plenty of bars and restaurants at every beach in town. Some bars are open until very late to enjoy the great nightlife Saranda has to offer.
During the day there are also plenty of things to do at the beaches in Saranda. What to think about renting a peddle boat or water scooter, or enjoy standup paddling or a massage? More info about those activities can be found in our activity directory.
Nearby Things To See
